Twenty years ago it was karakterspeler Stijn Vreven (45) captain of AA Gent. Tonight he stands as a coach of Beerschot Wilrijk in the 1/8th finals of the cup against his ex-club.

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Michaël Van Damme

For AA Gent is this bekermatch vital and you are well in the running for the second periodetitel in 1B. How is that at all of you with the cup?

“We shouldn’t have the foggiest about how to do so: we have other priorities. This match is really inconvenient. The match of Saturday against Tubize is much more important. But that is not to say that I have a B-team to go up. Only we will not take risks with doubt or tired players.

You played two years at AA Gent and was there captain. Is your ex-club are still slightly loose?

“I’m working on my tenth season as a head coach and as I look back on who I believe are the most affected, then I must go back to my time at AA Gent. Johan Boskamp has me influenced in the field of the mental: to work hard every day, no fear and going out of your own strength. And Trond Sollied did that at the tactical level: the importance of looppatronen and automatisms.’

‘AA Gent has given me the chance of an international career to build, with my transfer to FC Utrecht. Gent was deep in debt and sold everything football boots wore. (laughs) In that sense, have contributed to the AA Gent today.’

At NAC Breda as a memento, though. A Dutch newspaper wrote: “With his passion and popular avoid, he saw it as the construction workers on the and at this very moment.’

“I have but two passions: football and my daughter. For the rest of my life is empty’

“There is a certain perception of me. If you are active to coach, you will become soon a mentaliteitstrainer called. You’ll be sitting a whole match on the bench with a notebook, then you are a tactician. I have no problem with people that put me in a box to stop, but that they conclude that I’m not with tactics involved. Tactics is just my dada. My philosophy is clear: you must be from your own strength to play football, in the zone where the efficiency is highest. A veldbezetting depends on the qualities of the players. My active way of coaching is also a way to keep himself in the match.”

Last season it was three times to the tribune sent, a record. As a coach of Beerschot Wilrijk happened yet. Do you pay attention to it?

“Absolutely. With NAC Breda I obtained to the Premier league and the season it insured, we directly maintain. But the first thing they said was that the Board was not happy with my suspensions. I won’t deny, but I don’t want to be suspended. Afterwards you see the futility of it. You help yourself, the club and the players there. At that time, take the winner and the survivor comes to the fore.’

‘But eventually made the refs a hobby of me to the tribune to send. In the Netherlands sit refs in talkshows and commercials. By Stijn Vreven to the tribune to send, they came extra in the attention. ’

From whom did you get that sharpness inherited?

“I’m really a split personality. In football, I am someone else than outside of it. Of my father I have my quiet nature in daily life. That sharpness comes from my mother. She is seventy plus, but is still every day fifteen to twenty kilometres.’

When we called for an appointment, did you say: Come on, I am every day from 7 to 19 hours at the club.

“I shuttle between Hasselt and Antwerp and get up every day at 5.15 am. I am convinced that we are not the same results would come up if I have less time in my job, stitches. Also my staff works the same way hard. I have but two passions: football and my 18-year-old daughter. For the rest of my life will be empty. (laughs) And will soon be leaving my daughter for half a year to America. Then, I have absolutely no reason to go home.’

Football put into perspective is not to spend on you?

“No. After a defeat I have suffered, literally, physically. I find it hard to do fun things as we get into the weekend have lost. Parties or birthdays I let rather pass. I sometimes call things off. I miss maybe a lot of things, but it is just because I am so hard afzie of losses, that I have all to do to win. If not, then there may be a false side in me bubble to the surface. (laughs) I am very happy that I have the VAR have not experienced as a player. I have a lot of things done that the bracket could.’

You’re ten years working as a coach. Will there ever be a top club?

“My results in the NAC could be seen. Therefore, I said to my broker: Now I want to wait until the right train pass. But if a name like Beerschot Wilrijk, then at me again that NAC-feeling play. Maybe Beerschot Wilrijk even a bit too ambitious. But the bar just a little high, that suits me.’

There is so far no club has come, has perhaps, with the perception around me. Board members are bound to have a picture of me on the basis of interviews after a match, but not on the basis of the philosophy that I uitdraag. If you don’t, then indeed the image of a coach who is everything mentality.’